Summary

Mirella finished her last day of work, cleaning Mrs. Spiller’s house. At 44, she decided it was time to retire as her father had died at that age. She had saved 20 years of her wages, hoping she would now travel with that money. Mirell thought she needed to “fix” Penelope before she left, as Penelope had moved back home after dropping out of RISD. She had noticed Penelope’s routine was the same every day; she would shelve books at her job at the library, come home and then leave again, returning late at night. Mirella felt disheartened on her last day of work and went outside to work on her garden. Mirella could recall the moment that her relationship with Penelope became almost nonexistent. It was when Ramona died and Penelope went to the funeral in Aguas Frescas without her...